The two walked behind the returning villagers, keeping a distance that was neither too far nor too close, faintly able to hear the conversations ahead.

The sky gradually darkened, and lights began to glow in the houses along the field ridges.

Ling Luo glimpsed the sweet cane in Yue Liangze’s hand and reached out to him. Yue Liangze gave it to her.

“Has the nightmare demon been eliminated?” she asked while eating.

Yue Liangze looked at the Chen family’s child ahead and said softly: “It will take two more days.”

Nightmare demons most loved to enter children’s bodies. Children had weak resistance and possessed the pure souls that the demons craved. Children possessed by them would usually die silently in their sleep.

However, nightmare demons preferred to infiltrate their hosts’ bodies slowly. The Chen child had been severely consumed, so the demon could not be exorcised too quickly—it had to be done gradually.

Ling Luo pointed the sweet cane behind them and said: “When I came here before, there was a great mountain blocking the path to the outside world. If villagers wanted to go to the market or seek medical help, they had to cross mountains and cliffs.”

“Back then, due to the wind demon’s havoc, many people fell from the cliffs—some died, some were injured. Even those lucky enough to survive the fall without broken arms or legs would certainly have their eyes eaten by the wind demon, becoming blind.”

Yue Liangze said: “I heard Brother Chen say that back then, two Dao Lords from Tianji stayed here for several months before catching the troublemaking wind demon.”

Ling Luo: “It was too good at hiding.”

Yue Liangze asked: “The wind demon has been eliminated, and you left some restrictions in the village that most demonic creatures don’t dare approach. Why have you come back?”

Ling Luo tilted her head to look at him: “Because the root of some problems isn’t with the wind demon. I just…”

Wanted these people to live better lives.

But she was no longer the Ling Luo of the past and couldn’t straightforwardly say such things anymore.

As one of the Twenty-Six Demons, having such thoughts was simply ridiculous. Neither humans nor demons would believe it.

Ling Luo pressed her lips together, saw the new moon in the sky, and said lazily: “I come when I want to. Having found a new sword, I wanted to find a place to test its effectiveness.”

Hearing this, Yue Liangze lowered his gaze to glance at Suiwu at her waist and said: “The sword is beautiful.”

Suiwu: Oh my heavens! Is this True Lord Danshui? Master, take a good look at him! Is he an impostor? In all my years, I never thought I’d hear him call me beautiful!

Ling Luo thought to herself, you’ve always been the most beautiful sword, he’s just stating a fact, how is that a compliment!

Suiwu continued its shocked rambling: Why can you two chat so harmoniously? He even gave you a sweet cane to eat? Why is he so obedient? In the past, would he dare to be this close to you? Why are you willingly calling him Senior Brother—isn’t that humiliating for you?

Suiwu: What have I missed during my days in Shangwu Ravine?!

Ling Luo: “…”

Block it!

As the night deepened, passing by villagers’ homes, Tian Gu enthusiastically introduced Ling Luo and Yue Liangze to everyone. Those who had met Yue Liangze before were very surprised.

One villager became a bit flustered: “I never imagined A-Ze was also a Dao Lord. Earlier, I even had him help with hoeing the fields… I’m truly sorry about that.”

Ling Luo glanced at Yue Liangze, who was slightly frowning and said: “It’s fine. My Senior Brother’s skills are limited, and he doesn’t understand spells. Being able to help with hoeing is good; you don’t need to be polite with him.”

Despite this, the villagers still seemed somewhat anxious.

In this world, most ordinary people deeply respected cultivators but also feared them to some extent.

Yue Liangze disliked people being overly cautious and paying too much attention to him.

Once they were deeper into the village, Ling Luo asked: “Where are you staying?”

Yue Liangze answered: “At Brother Chen’s house.”

Tian Gu, who was ahead, said: “Brother Chen’s house has only one guest room, which probably can’t accommodate two people. Dao Lord Ling, why not stay at my house? It’s not far from Brother Chen’s.”

Brother Chen glanced at Yue Liangze and quickly said: “There’s enough room! The children can sleep with us. There are two guest rooms.”

Tian Gu wanted to say something more but was stepped on by Brother Chen, causing him to yelp in pain.

Yue Liangze had already started leading Ling Luo toward Brother Chen’s house.

Tian Gu: “Brother, why did you step on me?!”

Brother Chen, carrying his child, rolled his eyes and quietly lectured him.

Yue Liangze got along well with Brother Chen’s family and knew about his dietary preferences, so they ate separately.

Occasionally, he would go to the mountains to find ingredients himself.

Ling Luo curiously examined the courtyard as she entered. Chen’s wife welcomed her warmly, and when the child returned, his mischievous antics made the atmosphere even livelier.

Land in the countryside was certainly much cheaper and better than in the city. After marrying and having children, Brother Chen renovated the house, adding many flower and fruit trellises and rebuilding one room.

After dinner, while resting in the courtyard, watching the man hold his child up high to pick fruits from the vines, Chen’s wife smiled and said: “Thanks to the Dao Lord eliminating the wind demon, we now dare to go out without worry. Before, we avoided leaving whenever possible, going out at most once every few days. Now, with the wind demon gone, when we need something, we can go out and buy it with peace of mind. Life has become much easier.”

Ling Luo rested her chin on one hand while watching Yue Liangze busy in the kitchen, all while responding to Chen’s wife with a smile.

“My Senior Brother… is very skilled. When I said on the road that he was unskilled and didn’t understand spells, I was deceiving them,” Ling Luo said softly. “Senior Brother likes tranquility and doesn’t like others knowing his identity as a cultivator.”

“He will certainly eliminate this nightmare demon. I hope you won’t worry about it.”

Chen’s wife was surprised at first, then smiled: “We naturally trust A-Ze. If it weren’t for him, my son might not have survived that night. Our entire family is very grateful for this.”

Ling Luo nodded gently.

In the countryside at night, insect sounds filled the air, especially in summer, with frogs and crickets in chorus, not to mention the constant, exhaustive cicada calls.

As the lights went out and the villagers fell into dreams, Ling Luo, who had been watching the night sky without entering her room, took her sword and left.

Just as she went out the door, Yue Liangze asked: “Where are you going?”

Ling Luo turned back in surprise: “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

She saw Yue Liangze’s room was pitch black and thought he had already gone to bed.

Yue Liangze didn’t answer but asked again: “Where are you going?”

“To the cliff,” Ling Luo continued walking outward.

Yue Liangze followed her.

Ling Luo no longer walked leisurely as before but directly flew by sword to the cliff and set up a barrier on the path.

Yue Liangze asked: “Why set up a sound barrier?”

Ling Luo: “So they won’t hear.”

Yue Liangze seemed to understand, looked at her, then at the cliff, and cast a spell to expand the sound barrier.

He said: “If you’re going to split the mountain to open a path, you’ll need to extend the sound barrier to the fields over there.”

Ling Luo held her sword and looked back at him with a strange gaze: “How did you know what I was going to do?”

“Just a guess,” Yue Liangze looked at her, his eyes clear. “Was I right?”

Ling Luo gave a light snort, and used the riding wind spell to ascend into the void, and her long sword, following golden phosphorescence, transformed into thin white mist and dispersed, marking different parts of the cliff.

In her previous life, she had planned for a long time before taking action, considering direction, avoiding affecting surrounding things, calculating the path’s position, and so on. Those days of serious, hard work were engraved in her heart, making her extremely proficient when doing it again.

So as soon as she arrived at Simao Village, she planned to take action directly.

She just hadn’t expected Yue Liangze to be here too.

The sound barrier expanded, with a black barrier keeping the village outside. As Ling Luo took action, sword howls rang out, mountain rocks rolled and flew, and the earth trembled.

Yue Liangze rapidly formed hand seals, casting one spell after another to help conceal the abnormality, preventing the sleeping villagers from noticing anything.

He looked up at Ling Luo, who was holding Suiwu in the void. Even in the night, she still radiated brilliance, dazzling and eye-catching.

The great mountain that had stood silently here for hundreds of years was split open by the forceful, domineering sword energy. The crack gradually widened, the sword intent unstoppable, like a divine dragon charging, seemingly able to devour all things in heaven and earth as it bit into the cliff face.

The barrier on all sides trembled, showing cracks, and Yue Liangze continued to repair it.

From the deep night until dawn, when the sky turned a pale white and morning light faintly appeared, the inside of the barrier had undergone earth-shattering changes.

The majestic, towering mountain that had blocked people’s path was split open by domineering sword intent, creating a long, wide, and flat road between the two cliff faces.

In just one night, it had completely transformed.

Ling Luo descended from the void, raised her hand to rub her eyes, and yawned, feeling somewhat tired.

She saw Yue Liangze setting up barriers on both sides of the cliff to prevent high-altitude rock fragments from falling.

Ling Luo walked over and said: “Later, when they plant some flowers and trees, there won’t be any fear. If they also add some stone lanterns and such, they won’t fear walking at night either.”

Yue Liangze saw her tired eyes and asked: “What made you think of doing this?”

Ling Luo didn’t answer but reached out to pull his sleeve, leaning her head against Yue Liangze’s chest.

Yue Liangze froze.

“Too tired,” Ling Luo said, her voice very soft. “Both tired and sleepy.”

Yue Liangze had no resistance to Ling Luo’s vulnerability, his heart turning incredibly soft, though he didn’t show it in the slightest.

He carried Ling Luo on his back, walking toward the village.

Light gradually emerged behind the two.

Ling Luo rested on his back with her eyes closed and said: “No particular reason. I wanted to do it, so I did.”

In this life, she didn’t need to say it was for the people, to make their lives better, to make travel more convenient.

She had given kindness, and she had given fear.

No matter how many people she saved or how many evil demons disrupted the world she killed, it couldn’t overcome the fact that killing even one person was a sin.

“Don’t tell them, and don’t tell anyone else,” Ling Luo mumbled. “I don’t want to hear those flattering, empty words. It’s not for anyone; I just wanted to test my newly found divine sword.”

Yue Liangze answered with a sound of agreement.

Ling Luo yawned with a charming demeanor and said: “If they ask, just say… just say… the mountain decided to open itself.”

Yue Liangze couldn’t help but smile at this.

Ling Luo complained: “Don’t laugh!”

Yue Liangze: “Mm.”

But there was still laughter in his eyes.

Ling Luo continued: “Others don’t need to know, but you must know, so that in the future you’ll…”

Not be like those people who are hostile toward her.

Ling Luo imagined the scene of Yue Liangze scolding, despising, and denouncing her, and she couldn’t help but feel a stomachache. She involuntarily curled up, feeling it was unacceptable.

Fortunately, Yue Liangze had never said such things before.

But Ling Luo suddenly recalled that in her previous life, when she became a demon, she turned around and was faced with Yue Liangze’s sword.

At that time, Wusheng was so close to her, almost touching the skin of her neck as it passed by.

Thinking carefully now, it seemed that Yue Liangze had wanted to kill her then.

Ling Luo was startled by her thoughts and couldn’t help but turn her head to look at Yue Liangze. He was carrying her along the brightening path. The morning breeze was cool, carrying the scent of green grass from the fields.

The man’s broad shoulders were solid and warm, making one want to lean against them and sleep comfortably.

His profile overlapped with her memory, and in a daze, she saw the raging fire of Mount Tianzhao burning everything.

Ling Luo was too tired and fell asleep on his shoulder before she could ask about her confusion.

But the Bitter Karma Flower entered her dream.

Ling Luo saw Yue Liangze kneeling at the entrance of the Sacred Sword Sect.

He had been kneeling for a long time.

From dawn to dusk, through several cycles of day and night, he still knelt with a straight back, his expression calm, his gaze as bright and clear as ever.

At night, a downpour washed over the giant stone at the sect entrance, soaking the three characters of “Sacred Sword Sect.”

He knelt in the pouring rain, silently contemplating.

At dawn, his Eldest Senior Brother stood inside the entrance and said to him: “I thought you would become a demon, and I had prepared how to stop you, but I didn’t expect you to endure it on your own.”

Yue Liangze lowered his eyes, like an obedient student listening to instruction.

His Eldest Senior Brother snapped his fingers, dispersing the moisture from his body and restoring him to dryness.

He said unhurriedly: “Don’t you hate demons the most? Because of your hatred, you’d rather die than become a demon. Why are you now kneeling here for someone who has become a demon?”

“After becoming a demon, she went on a killing spree, doing what you hate most.”

Yue Liangze said hoarsely: “I could endure without becoming a demon because she once shone so brightly in my eyes.”

“She was brilliant with her battle divinity and sword intent at the Golden Luan Pool Banquet, splitting mountains to open paths, creating dragon chariots and cloud-riders for the people, and guarding the city alone without retreating—all radiant.”

“Senior Brother, each time she went into battle, every stroke of sword intent she delivered was firm and righteous. Just seeing her would influence me. Because she was so dazzling in my eyes, I gained strength from her sword intent, so I couldn’t allow myself to lose to demons.”

His Eldest Senior Brother said: “But she became a demon.”

Yue Liangze bowed his head and said: “Yes, she became a demon. That day at Nanshan Xuehe, when she became a demon, I wanted to kill her.”

His sword had reached before Ling Luo, but he lost the moment she turned around.

The path he had tried to adhere to had been abandoned and trampled by Ling Luo, making him realize how foolish and weak he was.

Ling Luo had given him strength and then destroyed that strength.

Yue Liangze knelt at the entrance, reflecting with a calm mind.

He had made the wrong decision.

Yue Liangze said softly: “I couldn’t kill her.”

His Eldest Senior Brother flicked his forehead with a finger and sighed: “Fool.”

Yue Liangze knelt for several more days.

Bai Zang returned to the sect and detailed to Yue Liangze, still kneeling under the giant stone, the things Ling Luo had been doing outside.

“She’s now in Nanjiang City. Rumors say she’s cultivating the Beauty Point and has sent out many spiritual demons to capture people.”

Bai Zang said: “She chose her own path. No one in this world can influence her decisions anymore. Not even you.”

“Tianji Island in the East and Nanshan Xuehe hate her to the bone and won’t let go. The major immortal sects have all joined forces, so it’s not our business. Rather than killing her, I’m more concerned about the Deep Abyss Spiritual Meridian issue.”

Bai Zang rambled on to him.

The Third Senior Brother was the most cold-hearted person in the Sacred Sword Sect, only occasionally showing minimal care for his fellow disciples.

Just as darkness fell, the sect was lit up with bright lights.

The master finally agreed to see him at the entrance.

Eccentric looked at his young disciple and said: “The Sacred Sword Sect has no rule for expelling disciples. Once you enter our gates, in life or death, you’re one of us.”

Yue Liangze looked up at him.

“But the Sacred Sword Sect stands opposed to demons, yet you now descend the mountain for a demon,” Eccentric shook his head slightly, his expression somewhat helpless. “Your Eldest Senior Brother is the gatekeeper. If you can pass through his hands at this entrance, then go.”

“You remain my disciple, but after this departure, you and your descendants, for generations to come, may never enter the Sacred Sword Sect again.”

Yue Liangze remained silent, bowing his head in respect to his master.

After three bows, he took his sword and stood up, battling with his Eldest Senior Brother who guarded the entrance.

His Eldest Senior Brother didn’t use full strength, yet he was still injured.

Yue Liangze wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and took his sword, descending the mountain into the night.

He wanted to find that woman and see what she looked like now.

But he was severely injured, unable even to fly by sword. Although his Eldest Senior Brother hadn’t used full strength, it wasn’t easy on him. After leaving the vast snowy plains, he collapsed into the water, letting the current carry him away.

At some point, Yue Liangze encountered a kind-hearted fisherman who pulled him from the water.

As dawn broke, the fisherman poled his boat across the vast river. When he looked back, he saw the man he had rescued from the water had opened his eyes, so he rubbed his hands together and smiled: “Young man, you’re finally awake?”

“That sword was protecting you. I couldn’t even check your wounds to help you.”

Yue Liangze opened his eyes, looked at the sky, and said hoarsely: “Thank you.”

The fisherman smiled: “Life-saving matters—help if you can.”

“Where are you headed, young man? Shall we go to the city first to find a doctor? When I pulled you out, you were covered in blood.”

Yue Liangze said: “I need to go to Nanjiang City.”

“Nanjiang City?” The fisherman shook his head and said, “That place is in turmoil—cultivators fighting, demons running rampant, even the officials can’t handle it. It’s turned upside down and is now controlled by a demon woman. Young man, seeing your condition, I think it’s better not to go.”

Seeing Yue Liangze getting up, he added: “Why not wait until your wounds are healed before going?”

Yue Liangze: “I need to go now.”

The fisherman asked puzzledly: “In this condition, you still insist on going? Do you have family in Nanjiang City who can’t leave?”

Yue Liangze shook his head, “I need to see someone.”

The fisherman asked: “What kind of person is so important that you’d go despite such serious injuries?”

Yue Liangze answered softly: “The one I love.”

The fisherman was startled at first, then shook his head and began to laugh.